attrition

attrition
[əˈtrɪʃ(ə)n]
noun
[mass noun]

the action or process of gradually reducing the strength or effectiveness of someone or something through sustained attack or pressure
（通过持久进攻或施压使力量或效果）削弱；消耗
the council is trying to wear down the opposition by attrition.
政务会试图用消耗战的方法来削弱反对派。
the squadron suffered severe attrition of its bombers.
飞行中队的轰炸机损耗严重。
■(chiefly N. Amer. & Austral./NZ)the gradual reduction of a workforce by employees leaving and not being replaced rather than by redundancy
(主北美，澳／新西兰)（不是因裁减冗员，而是因雇员流失却不补充而造成的）人员缩减
■wearing away by friction; abrasion
磨损；摩擦
the skull shows attrition of the edges of the teeth.
头骨显示出牙齿边缘有磨损。
(in scholastic theology) sorrow for sin falling short of contrition
（经院神学理论用语）不彻底忏悔

派生
attritional
adjective
语源

late Middle English (in sense 2): from late Latin attritio(n-), from atterere 'to rub'

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